AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING DEVICE

Abstract

 The invention presents an automotive lighting device (10) comprising a voltage regulator (1) with a regulator input (11) and a regulated voltage output (13), a controlled light group with a light driver (4) and a plurality of light sources (2) and a step-up unit (3) with a step-up input (31) and a step-up output (32) configured to provide a higher voltage than the voltage in the step-up input (31). The controlled light group is configured to be fed by the regulated voltage output (13) and the voltage regulator (1) has an auxiliary input (12) being electrically connected to the step-up output (32).

Description

[0001] This invention is related to the field of automotive lighting devices, and more particularly, to the electronic components comprised therein.

[0002] In some lighting devices, there is a need of ensuring the correct LEDs biasing even when the battery voltage is low.

[0003] This threshold of "low voltage" is being decreased by car manufacturers. A voltage regulator is usually used to ensure a constant voltage in the LEDs and driver, but this voltage regulator usually involves a high dropout voltage. This high dropout voltage determines the minimum low voltage threshold that the system is able to undergo.

[0004] Until now, the solution is not accepting a lower threshold than the one the linear regulator provides.

[0005] This invention tries to reduce the dropout of the state of the art linear voltage regulator and therefore the low voltage threshold required for correct LEDs biasing.

[0006] The invention provides a solution for these problems by means of an automotive lighting device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims.

[0007] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0008] In this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0009] In a first inventive aspect, the invention provides an automotive lighting device for an automotive vehicle, the automotive lighting device comprising:

• a voltage regulator with a regulator input configured to be electrically fed between a power source and a ground connection, the voltage regulator comprising a regulated voltage output;
• a controlled light group, comprising a light driver with terminals and a plurality of light sources grouped in light source groups, each light source group being connected to one of the terminals;
• a step-up unit comprising a step-up input configured to be electrically fed between the power source and the ground connection, this step-up unit further comprising a step-up output configured to provide a higher voltage than the voltage in the step-up input;

wherein

• the light driver is configured to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in at least one terminal;
• the controlled light group is configured to be fed by the regulated voltage output; and
• the voltage regulator having an auxiliary input being electrically connected to the step-up output.

[0010] The step-up unit increases the voltage level at the auxiliary input, so that the voltage dropout caused by the voltage regulator is at least partially compensated by this voltage increase. As a consequence, the net result of the voltage dropout (the difference between the voltage at the output of the voltage regulator compared to the voltage at the input of the voltage regulator) is much lower than in the state-of-the-art devices.

[0011] The light sources may be grouped in light source groups or may be individually connected to one of the terminals of the driver. In this last case, the light source group would comprise a single light source.

[0012] The step-up unit may be physically arranged in the voltage regulator or outside it.

[0013] In some particular embodiments, the step-up unit comprises at least one pulse width modulation generator arranged to commute a semiconductor electronic device, and at least one capacitor arranged in parallel with the semiconductor electronic device.

[0014] There are several types of step-up units to increase the voltage between the step-up input and the step-up output. Some of them may include a pulse width modulation element to commute a semiconductor device. In some particular elements, the step-up unit is a charge pump and in other particular elements, the step-up unit is a DC/DC converter. All of these examples are valid for the lighting device of the invention.

[0015] In some particular embodiments, the voltage regulator comprises a polarization circuit with at least one semiconductor electronic device and the auxiliary input is arranged to electrically feed the polarization circuit.

[0016] The polarization circuit of the voltage regulator is the main cause of the voltage dropout. By feeding this polarization circuit with the raised voltage from the step-up unit, this voltage dropout is compensated, thus achieving a minimum net voltage dropout.

[0017] In some particular embodiments, the light driver is located in series with the light sources with respect to the voltage regulator, in such a way that the light driver is arranged between the voltage regulator and the light sources.

[0018] This arrangement is a current source arrangement, where the driver receives the current from the voltage regulator and then feeds the light sources.

[0019] In some particular embodiments, the light driver is located in series with the light sources with respect to the voltage regulator, in such a way that the light sources are arranged between the voltage regulator and the light driver.

[0020] This arrangement is a current sink arrangement, where the driver receives the current from the voltage regulator and then feeds the light sources.

[0021] In some particular embodiments, the light driver is a multi-channel driver.

[0022] This multi-channel driver is useful when there is a high amount of light sources which need to be controlled.

[0023] In some particular embodiments, the voltage regulator is a linear regulator. These voltage regulators provide an accurate control of the voltage amount, following the instructions received from the control driver, which calculates the ideal temperature which provides a suitable voltage output value for the light driver and the light sources.

[0024] In some particular embodiments, the light sources are solid-state light sources, such as LEDs.

[0025] The term "solid state" refers to light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat generation and less energy dissipation. The typically small mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides for greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to brittle glass tubes/bulbs and long, thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, potentially increasing the life span of the illumination device. Some examples of these types of lighting comprise semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments, plasma or gas.

[0026] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[Fig 1] shows a general electric scheme of an automotive lighting device according to the invention.

[Fig 2] shows a scheme alternative of another automotive lighting device according to the invention.

[Fig 3a] and [Fig 3b] show a scheme alternative of another automotive lighting device according to the invention.

[Fig 4] shows an automotive lighting device according to the invention installed in an automotive vehicle

[0027] In these figures, the following reference numbers have been used:

1

Voltage regulator

11

Regulator input

12

Auxiliary input

13

Regulated voltage output

2

Light sources

3

Step-up unit

31

Step-up input

32

Step-up output

33

Pulse width modulation unit

34

Transistor

35

Capacitor

4

Light driver

40

Light driver terminals

5

Power source

6

Ground connection

10

Automotive lighting device

100

Automotive vehicle

[0028] The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0029] Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included.

[0030] [Fig 1] shows a general electric scheme of an automotive lighting device according to the invention. This automotive lighting device comprises:

• a voltage regulator 1;
• a controlled light group, comprising a light driver 4 with terminals 40 and a plurality of LEDs 2, each LED branch being connected to one of the terminals 40; and
• a step-up unit 3.

[0031] The voltage regulator 1 is a linear voltage regulator and comprises a regulator input 11 configured to be electrically fed between a power source 5 and a ground connection 6. The voltage regulator 1 further comprises a regulated voltage output 13, which is arranged to electrically feed the controlled light group.

[0032] The step-up unit 3 comprises a step-up input 31 configured to be electrically fed between the power source 5 and the ground connection 6. This step-up unit 3 further comprises a step-up output 32 configured to provide a higher voltage than the voltage in the step-up input 11. Thus, this circuit is in charge of providing a step-up voltage (from the battery voltage) to the voltage regulator 1 in order to get a lower net voltage dropout in this voltage regulator 1. For this aim, the voltage regulator 1 has an auxiliary input 12 which is electrically connected to the step-up output 32.

[0033] The voltage regulator 1 is intended to set the voltage at a level enough to bias the LEDs branches and the multichannel, but if no step-up unit 3 was present in the lighting device, a battery voltage with a high enough voltage would be necessary, to compensate the dropout at the voltage regulator 1.

[0034] The driver 4 is a multichannel driver, and is in charge of fixing the current through the LEDs 2, being able to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in at least one terminal 40. This driver 4 is also able to provide communication, switching, defect management and recovery management capabilities.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in this figure, the light driver 4 is arranged in series with the LEDs 2 with respect to the voltage regulator 1, in such a way that the light driver 4 is arranged between the voltage regulator 1 and the LEDs 2.

[0036] [Fig 2] shows a scheme alternative of a different automotive lighting device according to the invention.

[0037] In the embodiment of [Fig 1], the light driver 4 was arranged in series with the light sources 2 with respect to the voltage regulator 1, in such a way that the light driver 4 is arranged between the voltage regulator 1 and the light sources 2.

[0038] In this embodiment of [Fig 2], the light driver 4 is arranged in series with the light sources 2 with respect to the voltage regulator 1, in such a way that the light sources 2 are arranged between the voltage regulator 1 and the light driver 4.

[0039] [Fig 3a] and [Fig 3b] show particular examples of a step-up unit 3 included in a lighting device according to the invention.

[0040] [Fig 3a] presents an example of charge pump which may be used as a step-up unit 3. This charge pump comprises a pair of pulse width modulation units 33 to commute a pair of transistors 34. The capacitors 35 are arranged in such a way that the voltage in the step-up output 32 is higher than the voltage at the step-up input 31.

[0041] [Fig 3b] presents an example of a DC/DC converter which may be used as a step-up unit 3. This DC/DC converter comprises a pulse width modulation unit 33 to commute a MOSFET 34. The capacitor 35 is arranged in such a way that the voltage in the step-up output 32 is higher than the voltage at the step-up input 31.

[0042] [Fig 4] shows an automotive lighting device 10 according to the invention installed in an automotive vehicle 100.

[0043] This automotive lighting device 10 controls the operation of a great amount of LEDs 2 with a minimum battery voltage threshold. As a consequence, the performance of the LEDs 2 may be optimized at a wider range of operation parameters.

Claims

1. Automotive lighting device (10) for an automotive vehicle (100), the automotive lighting device (10) comprising:

- a voltage regulator (1) with a regulator input (11) configured to be electrically fed between a power source (5) and a ground connection (6), the voltage regulator (1) comprising a regulated voltage output (13);

- a controlled light group, comprising a light driver (4) with terminals (40) and a plurality of light sources (2) grouped in light source groups, each light source group being connected to one of the terminals (40);

- a step-up unit (3) comprising a step-up input (31) configured to be electrically fed between the power source (5) and the ground connection (6), this step-up unit (3) further comprising a step-up output (32) configured to provide a higher voltage than the voltage in the step-up input (31);

wherein

- the light driver (4) is configured to selectively activate or deactivate current flow in at least one terminal (40);

- the controlled light group is configured to be fed by the regulated voltage output (13); and

- the voltage regulator (1) having an auxiliary input (12) being electrically connected to the step-up output (32).

2. Automotive lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the step-up unit (3) comprises at least one pulse width modulation generator (33) arranged to commute a semiconductor electronic device (34), and at least one capacitor (35) arranged in parallel with the semiconductor electronic device (34).

3. Automotive lighting device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the step-up unit (3) is a charge pump.

4. Automotive lighting device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the step-up unit (3) is a DC/DC converter.

5. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage regulator (1) comprises a polarization circuit (14) with at least one semiconductor electronic device and the auxiliary input is arranged to electrically feed the polarization circuit (14).

6. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light driver (4) is located in series with the light sources (2) with respect to the voltage regulator (1), in such a way that the light driver (4) is arranged between the voltage regulator (1) and the light sources (2).

7. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light driver (4) is located in series with the light sources (2) with respect to the voltage regulator (1), in such a way that the light sources (2) are arranged between the voltage regulator (1) and the light driver (4).

8. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light driver (4) is a multi-channel driver.

9. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage regulator (1) is a linear regulator.

10. Automotive lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light sources (2) are solid-state light sources, such as LEDs.

Drawing